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The eagle and the condor are two of the most iconic bird species in the Americas. And as such, they are at the heart of a cross-continent prophecy. While its exact origin is unclear, it points to humankind taking two separate roads. Those who followed the path of the eagle were more intellectual, and went north; while the people of the condor, who were more creative and intuitive, went to the south. Despite breaking apart, they are meant to “fly” together once again. This concept inspired artist Alfredo aka Libre Gutierrez to paint these birds flying side by side on the U.S.-Mexico border wall, where a message of unity feels more necessary than ever.
The mural, titled Abrazo Mutuo (or Mutual Embrace) is located at Friendship Park in Playas de Tijuana, on the Mexican side of the towering wall, just south of San Diego. Covering 3,713 square feet, the mural transforms the thorny landscape into a colorful, uplifting work of art. The piece depicts an eagle and a condor against a backdrop that almost matches the surrounding area. The upper parts of the bird’s wings end where the wall begins, creating the illusion that they could fly over it at any moment.
“The condor represents the south, the Andean and Amazonian cultures, while the eagle symbolizes the north,” Libre Gutierrez explained at the inauguration ceremony. The Golden Eagle, which represents North America, is also the national bird of Mexico. And while the bird depicted next to it is an Andean condor found in South America, California has its own variety too—offering an extra layer of connection. “There is no better place to represent this union than this binational border, so alive and symbolic,” says Libre Gutierrez. With this mural, the Tijuana-born, Mexico City-based artist hopes to send a message of resilience and peace.
The project was funded by MOZAIK Philanthropy in Los Angeles, California, which supported the artist through his process of creating a mural on Mexican territory. And at the inauguration event, there was a blessing ceremony by the Kumiai—an Indigenous group whose ancestral lands, located between Baja and Southern California, were divided when the international border was established in 1848.
“Tijuana was the natural choice,” Daniel Watman, Friends of Friendship Park program director, told La Jornada. “It is the most appropriate place for a message like this, where the eagle and the condor are embraced in a mutual embrace that represents peace.”
This is far from Gutierrez’s first dip into art with heartening messages. He previously made a statement with Transportapueblos, a series of sculptures that served as “companions,” positioned along the route of the train that takes immigrants across Mexico. On top of the reassuring message, these artworks contained key information about shelters, geography, and human rights, as well as offering volunteers a spot to drop meals for those in need.
“Art is in our blood, is part of our lineage in Mexico and Latin America,” the artist told Espiral TV.
To stay up to date with his work, follow Libre Gutierrez on Instagram.
Inspired by the Indigenous prophecy of the eagle and the condor, artist Libre Gutierrez painted these birds on the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
The mural, titled Abrazo Mutuo (or Mutual Embrace) is located in Friendship Park in Playas de Tijuana, on the Mexican side of the towering wall.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
“The condor represents the south, the Andean and Amazonian cultures, while the eagle symbolizes the north. There is no better place to represent this union than this binational border, so alive and symbolic.”
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
The upper parts of the bird’s wings end where the wall begins, creating the illusion that they could fly over it at any moment.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
With this mural, the Tijuana-born, Mexico City-based artist hopes to send a message of resilience and peace.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
Alfredo “Libre” Gutierrez: Instagram
Sources: Inauguran en Tijuana el mural Abrazo mutuo, símbolo de unión entre Norte y Sur; Llaman a la unidad en inauguración del mural Abrazo mutuo; Espiral TV on Instagram; The Eagle And The Condor Prophecy: A 2,000-Year-Old Message For The Future
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